Tropical Feeding Frenzy!

A rorqual whale feeds on pink krill.
Photo credit M.Jenner

We recently travelled from Fremantle to Darwin and while en route experienced an incredible sunset feeding frenzy with several species of marine animals.  After a long day of searching for whales, at 5:20 pm I was relieved to see a large cetacean-sized splash two nautical miles away on a bearing of 045 degrees.  Calling the sighting down to the wheelhouse, we changed course and scanning with binoculars I was thrilled to see the black body of a whale surfacing in the early evening light!  Yahoo, what species do we have here?

As we slowly approached, we recognised the head and body shape of a Brydes’ (pronounced broodess) whale and quickly saw that there were two more surging back and forth at the surface apparently feeding.  Amid the excitement of photographing the three swirling whales, we were also thrilled to watch five huge (3-4 m) oceanic manta rays barrel-rolling through the krill right beside Whale Song.  Indeed, when the manta rays were belly-up at the surface with their beautiful white under-sides exposed, tiny pink krill, (which are small prawn-like crustaceans), were leaping skyward desperately trying to escape!  Amongst this feeding frenzy of whales and mantas, a calm and quiet pod of ten dwarf spinner dolphins swam gently through the “chocolate milk”, apparently thoroughly enjoying the evening as well, and no doubt searching for early squid that would make their way up from the depths to surface waters upon nightfall.

Dwarf spinner dolphins joining the excitement of feeding frenzy.
Photo credit M.Jenner

While chatting over our delicious Filipino meal prepared by our Chief Engineer, Resty, all the crew excitedly recalled and celebrated the marvel of the whales, the mantas and the dolphins altogether sharing the delights of the sea, shrouded in such a stunning tropical sunset.  Wow, what a treat!

While down-loading and examining some of the six hundred-odd photos captured on my new camera of this event, over the clang-and-bang of the dinner clean-up shuffle, Curt was heard to say “Wow, check out this photo, that camera just paid for itself!”  Carefully studying some of the images, we eventually decided that one of three whales was actually an Antarctic minke whale, so we had encountered a mixed pod of rorqual whales!  During my watch in the early hours of the next morning, I pondered the uniqueness of the spectacle we had witnessed, cetaceans feeding harmoniously together and krill leaping for their lives from manta rays beneath a tangerine, tropical setting sun.  I never fail to feel humbled by, and extremely fortunate for witnessing these wonderful, high seas experiences!

A Manta ray at the water surface vacuuming krill into its mouth which looks like a black hole. A closer look shows pink krill leaping skyward desperately trying to escape.
Photo credit M.Jenner